Apparatus for gas storage and transport

Abstract

An assembly for storing and transporting compressed fluid, such as compressed natural gas (CNG) that includes; a plurality of hexagonally stacked pipe stored in a cargo hold in or on a vessel, such as a ship or barge, that includes a lower support, side supports and a forcing mechanism that presses so strongly down on the pipes that they cannot move relative to themselves or relative to the vessel on which they are placed in any service situation. The friction between each of the pipes causes the plurality of pipes to act as part of the vessel in terms of its structure. Each of the pipes in the plurality of pipes is connected to a manifold system to allow or the loading and unloading of the compressed fluid.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An assembly for transporting fluid comprising:
 a. a barge or ship; 
 b. a cargo hold in said barge or ship including a lower support and a side support on each side of the lower support; and 
 c. a plurality of pipes for fluid containment in said cargo hold, each pipe of the plurality of pipes having at least one end that is open, the plurality of pipes being supported on the lower support between the side support; and 
 d. the plurality of pipes is stacked in a hexagonal manner; and 
 e. an upper forcing member that is configured to forcefully bear down on the plurality of pipes to apply sufficient compressive force to the plurality of pipes stacked in the cargo hold so that friction between the pipes will prevent any significant relative movement of the pipes caused by motions of the barge or ship, or by flexing of the barge or ship, or by strains caused by differential temperature or pressure; and 
 f. a fluid line system connected to the open ends of the plurality of pipes for filling and unloading fluid to the pipes; and 
 wherein the upper forcing member is forced downwardly by a forcing mechanism, wherein said forcing mechanism is a plurality of jacks between the upper forcing member and a top fixed deck of the cargo hold. 
 
     
     
       2. The assembly of  claim 1  where the pipes are made from steel. 
     
     
       3. The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a means for spreading stress between said upper forcing member and said plurality of pipes for fluid containment for spreading concentrated stresses generated by compression forces exerted by said upper forcing member; 
 wherein said means for spreading stress is a plurality of empty pipes of the same outer diameter of the fluid containment pipes wherein said plurality of empty pipes is in contact with said forcing member. 
 
     
     
       4. The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said cargo hold is filled with an inert gas. 
     
     
       5. The assembly of  claim 4  wherein:
 said inert gas is nitrogen. 
 
     
     
       6. The assembly of  claim 1  wherein:
 the forcing mechanism includes a tightening mechanism to permit pressing the upper forcing member down over the plurality of pipes after a first force is applied to accommodate settling in the plurality of pipes. 
 
     
     
       7. The assembly of  claim 1  wherein:
 said lower support comprises a plurality of bottom support members incorporated in a bottom of a hull of said barge or ship. 
 
     
     
       8. The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a friction element between the pipes; 
 said friction element is a roughening of a pipe surface to maximize friction between the pipes. 
 
     
     
       9. The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a means for spreading stress between said upper forcing member and said plurality of pipes for fluid containment for spreading concentrated stresses generated by compression forces exerted by said upper forcing member; 
 said means for spreading stress is a layer of empty pipe between said upper forcing member and said plurality of fluid containing pipes, wherein said layer of empty pipes is in contact with said forcing member. 
 
     
     
       10. The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a means for spreading stress between said upper forcing member and said plurality of pipes for fluid containment for spreading concentrated stresses generated by compression forces exerted by said upper forcing member; 
 said means for spreading stress is a layer of empty pipe surrounding and encompassing said plurality of fluid containing pipes.